Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

98 reports

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2004

Suspension

CONTROL ARMS WENT BAD. THERE'S NOISE WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10080862

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2004

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067375

97,000 miles · Dec 24, 2003

Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AT 11:30 PM. FAILURE CAUSED ALL HEADLIGHTS TO STOP FUNCTIONING, THEREBY LEAVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN TOTAL DARKNESS AT CRUISING SPEED. EXTREME POTENTIAL FOR FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS SWITCH HAS FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10051054

92,000 miles · Nov 3, 2003

Electrical System

AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL THE DEFECT REOCCURRED. DEALERSHIP WAS REFUSING THE FIX THE PROBLEM, INDICATING THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH COMPONENT THAT FAILED WAS NOT THE RECALLED COMPONENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10046151

102,692 miles · Oct 6, 2003

Electrical System

Read full complaint

FAILURE IN IGNITION SWITCH.*MR THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE STARTER TO REMAIN PARTLY ENGAGED DAMAGING IT BEYOND REPAIR. A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL WHICH THE CONSUMER RESPONDED TO ON SEPTEMBER 2001. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A REDESIGNED ONE. THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THE FAILURE NORMAL WEAR. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS REPLACE AT 63136 MILES THE SECOND WAS REPLACED AT 102692. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042612

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2003

Electrical System

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2000, WHICH HE HAD IT DONE .A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BURNED THE STARTER TWICE. MANUFACTUREE WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT MANUFACTURER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032260

40,000 miles · Jul 9, 2003

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

BOTH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HEADLIGHT WASHER VACCUM PUMPS SHORTED OUT AT THE SAME TIME AFTER 40000 MILES. NOTHING WAS DONE BY THE OWNERS OTHER THEN NORMAL DRIVING THE MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF INGINTION SWITCHES PROBLEMS NOTED ON AUDI 4'S.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025699

52,000 miles · Jun 3, 2003

Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022229

80,000 miles · Apr 30, 2003

Suspension

FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS CLUNK AND SQUEAK, THEY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT DUE TO POOR DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI #10016783

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE TIMING BELT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017560

Official recalls

22V471000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 1, 2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.

06V403000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 23, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AS A RESULT OF A PROBLEM IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ANCHOR POINT OF THE SPRING MAY CRACK. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WITH AN OPTIMIZED ANCHOR POINT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES THE REMEDY PROGRAM UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 00V317).

00V317000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

99V131001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 21, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT VACUUM TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A VACUUM BY-PASS SYSTEM INTO VEHICLES OPERATED IN THESE STATES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VACUUM FOR FULL BRAKE ASSIST UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.

97V175000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 8, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

97V115000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Jul 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED, OR NOT REMAIN LOCKED AFTER BEING ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN IMPROPERLY LOCKING SEAT BELT COULD CAUSE INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗